Sha'Carri Richardson Detained for Alleged Domestic Violence Incident at Seattle Airport
Sha'Carri Richardson, the reigning world champion in the 100m, found herself in the headlines last weekend for an unexpected reason. On July 27, 2025, Richardson was arrested at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on a charge of fourth-degree domestic assault following a verbal and physical altercation with her boyfriend, fellow sprinter Christian Coleman.
The incident, which took place at a TSA security checkpoint, was captured on surveillance footage and witnessed by several individuals. According to the accounts, Richardson pushed Coleman, causing him to fall into a column, yanked his backpack, threw headphones at him, and bumped him as he tried to walk away.
Richardson was booked into the South Correctional Entity (SCORE) in Des Moines, Washington, at 6:54 p.m. last Sunday and was released the following day, on August 28, 2025, at 1:13 p.m. Despite the arrest and being held for about 19 hours, Coleman chose not to press charges, and the case was later cleared.
This incident led Richardson to withdraw from the U.S. Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon. However, as the defending world champion in the 100m, she maintained her automatic spot for the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
Remembering back to 2021, another significant event that impacted Richardson's Olympic journey was her positive test for marijuana at the U.S. Olympic trials. This led to her exclusion from the Tokyo Olympics. USA Track and Field is aware of the latest developments but is not commenting on this matter. Richardson's agent did not immediately reply to an email request for comment.
The Tokyo Olympics were missed by Richardson due to her positive marijuana test at the 2021 U.S. Olympic trials. This ban was a direct consequence of her positive test. Despite the setbacks, Richardson returned to competition, running in the opening round of the women's 100 meters at the U.S. track and field championships in Eugene, Oregon, on Thursday. She has an automatic bye to the world championships in September in Tokyo.
The incident at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and Richardson's past experiences serve as reminders of the high-pressure environment athletes face and the challenges they must overcome. Richardson's story continues to unfold, and we will eagerly await her continued success on the track.
In light of the recent events, Sha'Carri Richardson's name once again appears in general-news outlets, this time due to a crime-and-justice incident at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Despite being charged with fourth-degree domestic assault, her boyfriend, Christian Coleman, chose not to press charges following their altercation.
In the sports world, Richardson's athletic career has been marked by both triumphs and tribulations, including a ban from the 2021 Tokyo Olympics due to a positive marijuana test and her recent arrest, which could not prevent her from qualifying for the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
